Mounting for interchangeable sticks and wheels



Sept. 18, 1945. Q-BARBER 2,385,184

MOUNTING FOR INTERCHANGEABLE STICKS AND WHEELS Filed Feb, 19., 1943 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR FIEODOEE C. 5 4255;

Sept. 18, 1945. T, c. BAR R 2,385,184

MOUNTING FOR INTERCHANGEABLE STICKS AND WHEELS Filed Feb. 19, 1945 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR jfi) 5 2! ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 18, 1945 or-rcs MOUNTING FOR INTERCHANGEABLE STICKS AND WHEELS Theodore C; Barber,Seattle, Wash. Application February 19, 1943, Serial No. 476,406

3 Claims.

mounting designed to permit the interchangeable use therewith of theusual joystick or a stick steering wheel-cable assembly to suit thedesires of the pilot; the former having an oscillating side to sideaction and also a front to rear action, while the latter comprises astick which has manual front to'rear action to operate the stabilizers:

and is equipped with a hand wheel with cable connections for actuatingthe ailerons by the rotation of the wheel.

Explanatory to the present invention it will be stated that in flight anairplane of ordinary type is controlled, in part, by a hand operatedstick or lever. operatively connected with 'aileronsand stabilizers thatwhen pushed directly forward or pulled directlybackward from a neutralposition, it will manipulate the stabilizers to cause the plane to nosedown or nose up accordingly. Furthermore, the stick is so connectedwithailerons that when actuated laterally from neutral position toeither side, it will adjust the ailerons in a manner whereby to causethe planeto bank for a turn toward that side. In another type ofinstallation,

lateral action of the stick for the. control of the ailerons is notprovided for, but instead, a. hand wheel is mounted on the stick and hasa drum with cable connections therefrom to parts which control actionofthe ailerons whereby on turning the wheel, they may be manipulated forbanking the plane. 7

In no instance, to my knowledge, has provision been made in an airplanefor the interchangeable use of the ordinary joy stick, having forwardand aft, also side to side action, and a stick-steering wheel-cableassembly which has front and back action for stabilizer operation andhas a wheel connected by cables to parts for the control and operationof the ailerons. V

Therefore, it is the object of this invention to provide a mounting thatis operatively connect,- ed with ailerons and stabilizers for theircontrol and functional operation, and with which mounting either theuniversal joy stick, or the wheel equipped stick may be appliedasdesired by the person who is to pilot the plane.

Other objects of the invention reside in than;

tails of constructionandcornbination ofi-parts,

This stick is so mounted and is so and their mode of operation aswill.hereinafter be fully described. 1

In accomplishing the above and other objects of the invention, I haveprovided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is aperspective view of the present mounting as equipped with the universaltype of joy stick.

Fig. 2 is an end the steering wheel equipped stick applied.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional detail on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top or plan view of the mounting.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section .on line 5-5 in Fig. 4. i l l Fig. 6 isa cross section on line 6-6 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a detail of the toggle link connection.

The present application is a divisional part of an application forpatent filed on February 11, 1941, under Serial No. 378,407, whichapplication was abandoned in view of an application filed on November10, 1941, under Serial No. 418,579 in which this subject matter wasdisclosed.

Referring more detail to the drawings---- In Fig. 1, I have illustratedthe control stick mounting embodied by this invention, and which isadapted for use therewith of the universal type of joy stick or asteering wheel equipped stick. The present mounting, in a preferredconstruction, comprises supporting bearings: l and la which are alignedlongitudinally of the airplane and are fixedly attached to the floor 2of the cockpit, or compartment in which the pilot of the plane is to belocated.

Extended between the bearings l and la and rotatably supported thereby,is a shaft 3. As here shown, the opposite ends of the shaft'extendthrough and are rotatably contained by the bearings. However, othersuitable means and methods of support might be employed. Rotatablyfitted about the shaft 3 along the forward portion thereof, is a tubularshaft or sleeve 4, which is equipped near its forward end with adownwardly directed lever arm 5 to which cables 6 and 6 are attached,and which extend laterally in opposite directions for connection withparts which operate to control action of the ailerons of the plane.Fixed to the sleeve at its rear end is a short, upwardly extending postI, and likewise fixed to the shaft 3 closely adjacent the rear end ofthe sleeve 4 and registering with the post 1, is a post 8; each of theposts I and -8 being formed with a hole through which a bolt elevationof the mounting with- 9, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, may be extended andsecured to hold the sleeve against rotation on the shaft 3 when such isdesired.

Fixed to the rearward end portion of the rod 3 and extending equally toopposite sides thereof is a tubular cross head I0, and pivotally mountedby this cross head is the mounting device for the joy stick or the stickand wheel assembly. This device, asbestshown in Figs. 1 and 2, comprisesa yoke having opposite side straps l4-l4' spaced apart along theirmedia] portions, then directed downwardly and toward each other andjoined together along their lower end portions. Likewise, the upper endportions of the straps are directed toward each other and are solidlyfixed to the opposite sides of an. upwardly opening socket member l5designed to receive the lower end of the joy stock or the stick of thestick and wheel assembly therein. The opposite side straps of the yoke,respectively, pass across the opposite endsof the cross head and a pivotbolt 20 is extended therethrough and through the cross head to pivotallymount the yoke to provide for forward and rearward oscillation of thestick. It is to be observed in Figs. 4 and 5 that the axisof the pivotbolt 23 intersects the axis of shaft 3 at a right angle. Also it will beunderstood that when the' bolt 9 is applied through the posts 1 and8,.lateral oscillations of the yoke will cause the shaft 3 and alsosleeve 4 to be oscillated accordingly.

The lower endportion of the socket and stick supporting yoke that isformed by'the joining of the lower end portions of the yoke straps l4and I4, extends downward, and is here shown as passing through anopening in'the floor 2. Attached pivotally to the lower end of the yoke,by a pivot member, is a link 25 which may be extended to any suitablemeans or devices for the controlof the stabilizers of the plane.

It will be mentioned here that insofar as this invention is concerned,the connecting means provided between the stick mounting and thestabilizers and between the mounting and the ailerons for-their control,is not important. It is s only required, in this instance, that somepractical or suitable means be connected With the depending lever arm 5for the control and actua tionofthe ailerons by-the rotative action ofthe sleeve 4.and that some suitable means be connected with the lowerend of the stick for the control ofthe stabilizers incident to theforward or rearward action of the stick. These connections might becables, levers, rods or hydraulic devicesof any practical kind andarrangement.

Secured to the opposite sides of the sleeve 4 and extending'rearwardlyand diverging in the rearward direction, are lever arms '30 and 30'.These lever arms :normally lie in the horizontal axial plane of shaft 3and at their rear ends, have out-turned ears 32 with perforations 33. Itis to be observed, by reference to Fig. 4, that the ears 32 are alignedon shaft 3 and are equally spaced gitudinal axis of the shaft.

Fixed to the floor in alignment with the cross ead, and equallyspacedfrom the shaft 3 at opposite sides thereof, are brackets 40 which areused in connection with the mounting of the stick and wheelv assemblypresently described.

In the use of the universal type of joy stick, the lowerend of thestick, designated by reference numeral 45, is applied to-the socket.Then it will be apparent that forwardlandrearward action ofthestickactuates with the axis of the cross head In from the lonpresent mountingwith theassembly,

the yoke accordingly and thus, through the linkage indicated, efiectsthe actuation of the stabilizers for nosing the plane up or down.Furthermore, lateral action of the stick, through the mounting yoke,effects rotative movements of the shaft 3 and sleeve 4, which latter,through the provision of lever arm 5 and cable connections 6 and 6',controls and effects the actuation of the ailerons for banking the planeor forholding it in stable flight.

When it is desired to use the stick and Wheel the joy stick 45 iswithdrawn from and the bolt 9 i removed so that and the sleeve 4 may berotated on the socket the shaft 3 the shaft 3.

Use of the present mounting in connection with stick-steeringwheel-cable assembly is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 wherein 50designates the stick equipped at its upper end with a yoke 5| whichmounts a steering wheel 52. This wheel is fixed on a horizontal stubshaft 53 rotatable in the yoke. On the shaft, is a small sprocket wheel55 over which a short length of sprocket chain 56 is extended; therebeing short lengths of cables 5! connected withthe ends of the chain andextending downwardly therefrom and equipped at their lower ends withhooks 5'! which are applied to holes 33 in the out-turned ears 32 of thelever arms 30 and 30. The lower end of this stick 50 is so applied tothe the wheel faces the pilot.

Fixed rigidly on the stick, above the socket, is

a collar or sleeve 60, and extending laterally and downwardly therefrom,and then turned vertically downward to register at their lower ends withthe brackets 40, are legs 70; the lower ends of the legs being fixed tothe brackets, respectively, by pivot bolts H and 1 I 1 Reference toFigs. 2 and 4 will show thatthe bolts H'H' are axially aligned with the'cr'oss head [0 which mounts the yoke on the shaft 3. After'the stick 50has thus beenapplied to the socket, the bolts 'H1l' are applied to'thelegs and brackets, and the cables attached at their lower ends to therear ends of the legs 30 and 30 by means of the hooks'5l.

It will be understood then that, With the bolt 9 removed from the posts7 and 8, rotation'of the wheel 55 will through the cable connections,effect rotative action ofthe sleeve 4 and thereby control the aileronaction through the lever arm 5 and cable connections 6 and 6'.

The stick 50 in this instance, is held against lateral action by reasonof the mounting of the legs 10 in the brackets 40. However, forward andrearward action of the stick is possible the same as in the use of theusual joy stick, and through the linkage connected with the lower end ofthe yoke, the stabilizers may be similarly controlled.

A feature of the chain and cable connection is shown in Fig. 7, whereinit is indicated that a hinged toggle link is applied in the connectionfor easy quick release of the cable when it is desired to dismount thisparticular stick assembly.

With the stick'mounting so constructed, it is possible for the pilot toselect the type of hand control he desires and to it or remove itfromthe mounting.

This mounting is applicable not only to complications previouslyreferred to.

Having thus described my invention, whatI socket that easily and quicklyapply claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1.In a mounting for interchangeable use of a joystick or stick-steeringwheel-cable assembly, a floor, a shaft rotatably supported along thefloor in a forward and rearward direction, a cross head fixed on theshaft, a yoke mounted by the cross head to oscillate on an axis at rightangles to the shaft axis, and whereby the shaft may be axially rotatedin opposite directions, means on the yoke for its operative connectionwith stabilizer control means, a sleeve rotatably fitted to the shafthaving means thereon for its operative connection with aileron controls,arms extended from the sleeve along opposite sides of the shaft intoalinement with the yoke axis for the rotatable actuation of the shaft bya steering wheel assembly, brackets fixed to the floor at opposite sidesof the shaft and alined with the crosshead for mountin a steering wheelassembly for forward and rearward oscillation, a socket mounted by theyoke to receive a joystick or the stick of a steering wheel assembly,and means securing the sleeve against turning on the shaft when thejoystick is used and releasable to permit turning of the shaft by thestick and steering wheel assembly when the latter is used and its cablesconnected with said arms.

2. A mounting of the character described, comprising a floor, a shaftrotatably mounted along the floor, a yoke pivoted on the shaft foroscillation on the longitudinal plane of the shaft and equipped foroperative connection with stabilizer control means, brackets fixed tothe floor at opposite sides of the shaft and alined with the yoke axis,a sleeve rotatably fitted to the shaft, means on the sleeve foroperatively connecting it with aileron control means, a, socket mountedon the yoke to interchangeably receive a joystick or a stick andsteering wheel assembly, lever arms extended from the sleeve at oppositesides of the shaft into alinement with the yoke axis, a stick applied tothe socket, a steering wheel on the stick, cable connections between theWheel and ends of the lever arms for rotating the sleeve, brace legs onthe stick extended under opposite sides and having ends in registrationwith said brackets, removable bolts pivoting the legs to the brackets,and a releasable means for locking the sleeve against rotation on theshaft.

3. In a mounting for interchangeable use of a universal joystick or astick equipped with steering wheel and cable connections: a rotatablymounted shaft, a sleeve rotatably fitted to the shaft, releasable meanslocking the sleeve against rotation relative to the shaft, meansconnected with the sleeve for aileron control, a yoke pivotally mountedon the shaft for rotating it in opposite directions, and providing foroscillation of the yoke in the longitudinal plane of the shaft; saidyoke being equipped for connection with stabilizer control means, meanson the yoke to receive a joystick for control of ailerons andstabilizers, or to receive a stick equipped with steering wheel andcable connections, and means on the sleeve for the connection thereto ofthe cable connections of the steering wheel whereby the sleeve, whenreleased from the shaft, may be rotated for aileron control.

THEODORE C. BARBER.

